The cryptic habits of subterranean termites restricts detailed analysis of their foraging patterns in situ, but the process is evidently dominated by tunnel constructions connecting the nest with woody resources disco...The cryptic habits of subterranean termites restricts detailed analysis of their foraging patterns in situ, but the process is evidently dominated by tunnel constructions connecting the nest with woody resources discovered within the territory of each colony. In this study, tunnel formation and orientation were studied experimentally in the termite Reticulitermes grassei （Clement）, using 2-dimensional laboratory foraging arenas con- taining fine sand as the substratum. The building of exploratory tunnels over a 10-day period and the geometry of the resulting network are described. Fractal analysis showed that tunnel geometry had a fractal dimension, regardless of the total length tunnelled whether foragers encountered the food source or not. The bulk density of the sand in the arenas affected the distances tunnelled, with higher density reducing construction, but did not affect tunnel geometry. Tunnels were not discernibly orientated with respect to the positioning of the food source, even in a situation where termites had failed to find the food source at a distance of less than 50 mm, suggesting that volatiles from wood are not attractants.展开更多
Chemical-treated soil or physical barriers have been the most commonly used approach for termite management. We hypothesized that a barrier of soil incorporated with oven-dried Lantana camara L. tissues could prevent ...Chemical-treated soil or physical barriers have been the most commonly used approach for termite management. We hypothesized that a barrier of soil incorporated with oven-dried Lantana camara L. tissues could prevent termite infestation. We first examined the antitermitic effects of the dried tissues from two cultivars （＇Mozelle＇ and ＇New Gold＇） on the subterranean termite, Reticulitermes virginicus （Banks） （Isoptera： Rhinotermitidae）. Results show that all of the tissues of Mozelle had greater antitermic activity than corresponding tissues of New Gold, and leaves had greater termiticidal effects than flowers and stems. When termites were exposed to the test materials in a no-choice bioassay, the 24-day test resulted in a significant reduction of survival （52.5%-88.6%）, running speed （18.2%-37.3%）, live weight （21.8%-53.5%） and body water content （33.2%-56.2%） compared to the control. The consumption of leaves and flowers was exiguous. When used as 25% tissue mulch-barrier, the oven-dried lantana tissues decreased termite tunneling and wood consumption and increased termite mortality. The decreased survival, vigor, and low consumption indicate a toxic and anti-feeding property of the materials tested. The results therefore support our hypothesis that the dried lantana tissues possess antitermitic activities.展开更多
文摘The cryptic habits of subterranean termites restricts detailed analysis of their foraging patterns in situ, but the process is evidently dominated by tunnel constructions connecting the nest with woody resources discovered within the territory of each colony. In this study, tunnel formation and orientation were studied experimentally in the termite Reticulitermes grassei （Clement）, using 2-dimensional laboratory foraging arenas con- taining fine sand as the substratum. The building of exploratory tunnels over a 10-day period and the geometry of the resulting network are described. Fractal analysis showed that tunnel geometry had a fractal dimension, regardless of the total length tunnelled whether foragers encountered the food source or not. The bulk density of the sand in the arenas affected the distances tunnelled, with higher density reducing construction, but did not affect tunnel geometry. Tunnels were not discernibly orientated with respect to the positioning of the food source, even in a situation where termites had failed to find the food source at a distance of less than 50 mm, suggesting that volatiles from wood are not attractants.
文摘Chemical-treated soil or physical barriers have been the most commonly used approach for termite management. We hypothesized that a barrier of soil incorporated with oven-dried Lantana camara L. tissues could prevent termite infestation. We first examined the antitermitic effects of the dried tissues from two cultivars （＇Mozelle＇ and ＇New Gold＇） on the subterranean termite, Reticulitermes virginicus （Banks） （Isoptera： Rhinotermitidae）. Results show that all of the tissues of Mozelle had greater antitermic activity than corresponding tissues of New Gold, and leaves had greater termiticidal effects than flowers and stems. When termites were exposed to the test materials in a no-choice bioassay, the 24-day test resulted in a significant reduction of survival （52.5%-88.6%）, running speed （18.2%-37.3%）, live weight （21.8%-53.5%） and body water content （33.2%-56.2%） compared to the control. The consumption of leaves and flowers was exiguous. When used as 25% tissue mulch-barrier, the oven-dried lantana tissues decreased termite tunneling and wood consumption and increased termite mortality. The decreased survival, vigor, and low consumption indicate a toxic and anti-feeding property of the materials tested. The results therefore support our hypothesis that the dried lantana tissues possess antitermitic activities.
